Printing machine



July6y1948- w. A. WHITEHEAD 2,444,547

- PRINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1944 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 6, 1943- w. A. WHITEHEAD 2,444,547

' PRINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 hi \\s k .\Ii:i:ii.. z J, n\\ I IN w? *IIIL v A Jqly 6, 1948. w. A. WHITEHEAD PRINTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet- 3 Filed NOV. 21, 1944 w. A. WHITEHEAD 2,444,547

July 6, 1948.

PRINTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 21, 1944 .6 Sheets- Sheet 4 Karl/474 July 6,1948. w, A, WHITEHEAD 2,444,547

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 [Mg/a4.

Patented July 6, 1948 PRINTKNG MACHINE 'William Arnold Whitehead, Fulwoo'd, Preston, England, assignor to The (3055 Printing Press CompanygChicagofllL, a corporation of Illinois Application November 21, 1944, Serial No. 564,444 lin- Great Britain Septemberl4, 1943 Section 1, Public-Law 690, August8, 1946 Patent expires September 14, 1963 6 Claims.

1 This invention relates to printing presses and refers more particularly to non-stop printing mechanism such as iscomm'only employed in the production of newspapers .for printing late news or like matter of the kindin which the impression cylinder or impression cylinder assembly is mov able laterally into printing engagement with one or other of a pair of type cylinders arranged at opposite sides of said impression cylinder or impression cylinder assembly.

It is an objectof the present invention to provide a non-stop printing. mechanism of the kind referredto which may beadapted either for latte :news or like printing in a single colour or for ItWo-colour printing.

It is another object of the invention to pro vide a non-stop printing mechanism in which the said lateral movement of the impression cylinder or impression cylinder assembly is effected automatically upon synchronization of the speeds of said impression cylinder or impression cylinder assembly with that type cylinder with which the impression cylinder or cylinder assembly is to be engaged.

A further object of the invention is to pro-- vide a printing unit which may be adapted for producing a-variety of non-stop and/or multicolourprinting combinations on a single web.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision, in a non-stop printing-mechanism, of means for producing coloured seals or headings.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the following descrtption of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made :totheannexed drawings.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a portion of a printing unit embodying a reversible printing couple and a non-stop mechanism, the latter mechanism here being shown in oneof the nonstop printing positions;

- Fig. 2 is a developed sectional view 'of the reversible couple and a part of the non-stop mechanism of'Fig. 1;

3 is a :diagramcof the'unit eshown in Fig. 1 illustrating the positions of the cylinders and associated gearing for multi-colour printing;

Fig. 4 is a dissected'detail view of part of the the speed synchronizing mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and '6 are detail views :of part of the mechanism "for moving the impression-"cylinder of the non-stop mechanism laterally into engagement'with the respective type cylinders;

Fig. '7'is adiagram-of the electrical-equipment and connections for :th non-stop printing mechanism;

-8.shows;in plan view, partly insection a modificationof the bearing housings supporting the'impression cylinder of the non-stop mechanism;

Fig.9 is a detail sectional view showing a modified form of :part of the speed synchronizing mechanism, and

Figs. '10 to 17 inclusivearediagrams of a.pri.nt ingwpress aggregate comprising a unit asillustrated in Figs. 1 to Banda second unit embodying a reversible couple and anon-reversiblecouple, Figs. 10A to =17A illustrating the various printing combination-s obtainable.

. In accordance-with the inventionand as shown in the illustrativeembodiments thereof, a late news or'like nonstop-printingmechanism comprises an impression cylinder assembly (which may includ'eeither one or tworimpression cylinders), and a pair "of "rtype cylinders arranged at opposite sides thereof, the impression 'cyl inder assembly being movable laterally into impression engagement with either one or other of said type cylinders, and either one or each of said latter cylinders itself being "movable towards and away from the impression cylinder assembly. In this way, the impression cylinder assembly maybe :run in engagement with either of the type cylinders or with both of said cylinders simultaneously.

To provide for this lateral movement of the impression cylinder assembly, the or each impression cylinder shaft is mounted in bearing housings which are movable inthe front and rear press frames. These bearing housingsjmay be either eccentric or rectilinear and are suitably offset with relation to a plane through theaxes of the type cylinders. The latter cylinders are preferably independently rotatable by means of gearing from the impression cylinder assembly and means are provided :for synchronizing the surface speed of the inoperative type cylinder during non-stop printing withthat of the impression cylinder assembly before the latter is moved into con-tact with said type cylinder. This lateral movement of the impression cylinder assembly is effected by a reversible electric motor which is automatically actuated througha switch or other means when the speed of the then inoperative type cylinder has been brought into synchronization with that of the impression cylinder assembly. Initial rotation of the type cylinders up to the speed of the impression cylinder assembly is effected by separate electric motors and means are provided whereby said motors and also the aforesaid reversible motor are automatically de-energized upon engagement of the impression cylinder assembly with either of the type cylinders.

To provide for adjustment of the or each of the type cylinders so that the impression cylinder assembly may be run in engagement with both type cylinders simultaneously, eccentric bearing housings are provided in which the type cylinder shaft or shafts is or are journalled, said bearing housings having means by which they may be readily angularly adjusted and secured in the desired positions. When only one type cylinder is in surface engagement with the impression cylinder assembly the machine is capable of non-stop printing as described in my application for Letters Patent Serial No. 490,459, filed June 11, 1943, which issued as Patent No. 2,425,167, Aug. 5, 1947, which when both type cylinders are in-surface engagement with the impression cylinder assembly the mechanism is capable of printing in two colours, 1. e., each type cylinder printing in a different colour.

With either single-colour non-stop or twocolour printing as aforesaid the printed matter appears on only one side of a web, but the mechanism may be adapted so as considerably to facilitate colour printing on opposite sides of one or more webs. For example, this non-stop mechanism may be employed in association with a standard reversible printing couple to provide a single printing unit capable of producing at will single colour printing on one side of a web and single colour non-stop or two-colour printing on the reverseside; two colour and nonstop printing on one side of a web; or threecolour printing on one side of a web. The range of printing combinations may be extended by employing an additional unit comprising two printing couples of which one is reversible, such combination of units being capable of printing simultaneously on two webs, one in a single colouron each side and the other in a single colour on one side and non-stop or in two colours on the reverse side. This combination of units may alternatively be arranged to print on a single web in one colour on one side and threecolour and non-stop or four-colour printing on the reverse side; in three colours on one side with non-stop or three-colour printing on the reverseside, or in two colours on one side with two-colour and non-stop" or three-colour printing on the reverse side.

Referring now to the drawings and more especially to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, the printing unit here illustrated comprises a non-stop late news or like mechanism including an impression cylinder H] which may be moved laterally into printing engagement with one or other of a pair of type cylinders ll, l2 arranged at opposite sides of the impression cylinder and a printing couple having an impression cylinder l3 and cooperating type cylinder 14.

The impression cylinder I is carried by a shaft l5 journalled in bearings l6 and in order that said cylinder may be moved from a position where, as shown in Fig. 1, it is in printing engagement with the type cylinder l2 to a position where it is in printing engagement with the type cylinder H, or vice versa, the bearings [5 are arranged within eccentric bearing housings ll which are rotatable inopenings I I! in the front and rear press frame members IS. The shaft I5 is continuously driven from, for example, the main press drive through a shaft l9 having socured thereto a bevel gear 20 which meshes with a second bevel gear 2| secured to a gear 22, said gear 22 being secured to a stub shaft 23 mounted for rotation in bearings 24 arranged in one of the press frame members l8 and in a gear casing 25 secured to said frame member. The gear 22 drives a gear 26 which is rotatably carried as by races 21 on a stub axle 28 secured to the gear casing 25 and substantially coaxial with the impression cylinder shaft [5 when said cylinder is in an intermediate position and out of en gagement with the type cylinders ll, 12. The drive is transmitted from the gear 26 to the impression cylinder shaft [5 through on Oldham or other equivalent coupling allowing relative displacement of the driving and driven axes, one of the friction members 23 of said coupling being secured to the gear 26 and the other friction member 30 to a gear 3| keyed on the shaft l5.

The gear 26 is constantly in mesh with a pair of gears 32 one of which is shown in Fig. 2 and which are each rotatably carried as by means of races 33 on a stub axle 34 secured to the gear casing 25. Each of the stub axles 34 is coaxial with one of a pair of shafts 35 rotatably journalled as by means of taper roller bearings 36 in bearing housings 31 carried in the press frame members !8, one of said shafts -having secured thereto the type cylinder II and the other shaft the type cylinder l2. The gear 26 and the gears 32 constitute a timing gear train of which the gears 32 rotate at the same angular speed as the type cylinders H, l2. One or other of the type cylinder shafts is adapted to be driven, in each extreme transverse position of the impression cylinder [0, by means of the gear 3| which is of slightly lesser pitch diameter than the gear 26, said gear 3t meshing with one or other of a pair of gears 38 keyed on the shafts 35. The gears 38 are also of slightly lesser pitch diam eter than the gears 32 to provide the same gear ratio in relation to the gear 3| as that between the gear 26 and the gears 32. Thus in either of such positions of the impression cylinder one of the type cylinders is driven through the gear 3| and the corresponding gear 38, the other gear 38 being out of mesh with the gear 3! and its type cylinder therefore being stationary.

Provision is made for bringing each of the type cylinders ll, 12 from stationary to printing speed before the impression cylinder is moved into engagement therewith. As shown, a pair of electric motors 40 are mounted on the press frame, one of said motors being coupled to the shaft 35 carrying one of the type cylinders through a pinion 4i meshing with a spur wheel 42 on said cylinder shaft and the other motor being similarly coupled to the shaft carrying the other type cylinder. Each of the timing gears 32 has pivotally mounted on its inner face and positioned for rotation about the axis of said gear a pawl or dog 43 (see also Fig. 4) which, when the motor 40 is actuated and the speed of the gear 38 reaches or slightly exceeds that of the corresponding gear 32, engages a' ratchet groove or recess 44 in said gear 38 and thus brings the speed of the type cylinder into registry with that of the timing gear 32. The pawls 43 are suitably spring-pressed towards the corresponding recess 44 and with said recesses also ensure that the type cylinders are in proper angular relationship to the impression cylinder before :the :latter isrmoved to make printing econtactwithseither itype cylinder. The-construction and arrangement of each pawl:=4:3zis such that-iit zwill'zremain within :the recess in-the corresponding geared until thelatter is disengaged fromthe :gear 3| and its speed drops.

'rlnaddition to synchronizing the speed of the inoperative type :cylinder with that of the :impression cylinder before these cylinders :are

brought into :impression contact, :-engagement :of

the'pawlzorsdog 4'3 within: the recess 'inthe corresponding drivingwheel 38 serves to 'control'the movement :of the impression cylinder ill :to disengage-it from the operative'type cylinder and move it into-engagement with the inoperative type cylinder-now brought'to printing speed. For this purpose each 'of the pawls has connected for pivotal movement therewith an arm crlever :45 to vwhichis connectedone end of azrodlfi extending through and axially movable :within the stub axle .34 of the corresponding :timing gear 32. The opposite end of :the rod 136 cooperates with :a. switch '41 .secured on the outer end of the stirb'axle flandconnectedzin th'e control circuit of- 'a :reversible electric motor =48 which, through mechanism later to be described, :operates .to impart lateral movement to the impression cylinder. When :the pawl 143 'is disengaged "from its recess ,the switch 14''! is open and when the:pawl;enters said recess 'the d :46 is moved to :permit the,

which are fast on a tubular shaft-1'53 ar-ranged parallel to the impression rcylinder shaft ll'li and having :enlarged diameter bearing portions 54 towards its *oppositeends which cooperate :with bearing bushes -55 carried :by the-"press frame members '18. At one endthe 'tubular shaft :53 also has fast thereon a worm-wheel :56 which is meshed with a worm 5-! which is driven direct by lthewmotor :48. The bearing housings IT, :as shown :inFigs. -1 and 3, are ;each formed with radially "outwardly extending shoulders or: abut-- ments 258 zwhich, by engagement with adjustable stop screws 5:9 threaded into bearing eaps 66 on the .press irame members 18, limit the angular movement .of said housings =I 1- and thereby the lateral movement of :the impression "cylinder. relatively to thetypercylinders. ..As-wi1l1be later described, this limitation of the :angular movement of the bearing housings :H issynchronized with the actuation of'limit switches associated with one of saidhousings to de-energizethe reversible electric motor 48 and also that motor 40 by which the type cylindernow'in. impression contact with the impression cylinder Ill has :been brought to vprinting'speed.

Although the motor 48 is de-energized whenthe impression cylinder engages the. hitherto inoperative type cylinder, :its rotorrcontinues to revolve dueto its inertia. As, rhowever, rotational movement 0f the tubular shaft :53 has been arrestedzbyaengagement of the shoulders 58 .on the bearing housings 1| 1' with the stop screws 25.9, ,tthe continued trotation-zof asaid rotor will be translated ".into :axialimovement :of the tubular shaft. This "axial movement of the :shaft'in one :direction: or the other :serves :to i compress :one of ra pair of springsvs- I coiled: about a'fixed spindle 62 which passes axially through one end portion "of the S113ifti53g-30lfle "of said springs'ebeing arranged 'between:an internal. rib i 63 on the 'tubular'shaftand acollar 64 rigid with said fixed .spindle .62 and the .ot'her spring being positioned between a;furtherrcollar'fl .on said .fixed spindle and -a-p'lug 66 :secured within "the tubular shaft. Awpawl 56A (Fig. "7.) coupled to the armature 6'! of a solenoid 68 is operable, aswill hereinafter be described, to hold the'motor -48"stationary until the inoperative type cylinder has been brought to printing speed, thereby also holding one of the springs El in :compression. -"Whenzthe motor 48 is again energizedpthistime in the opposite directionto that which produced'compression of said spring 6lxftherenergy"stored in said latter spring "causes the shaft 53 to move axially to a midwayposition where the-two springs 6| areloalanced. Since during this ,axialmovement-of the shaft the quadrants 31 will remainystationary, the motor 48 is not-under load and quickly reaches maximumzspeed "so that-in the midway position of theshaft-Sii, the motor has developed sufficient powerto turn thequadrant 350' and thus cause the impression cylinder to move into engagement with the othertype :cylinder. Thus the shaft 53, which is alternately spring-loaded:in 1oppo-' site=directions, assistsin quickly developing maximumtorque in the motor 48 to move the-impressionw-cylinder. Axial movementof the shaft 53 is .limited ineach direction by an internal sleeve 69 .fixed thereon and :having' limited movement between thecollars 64, on the fixed spindle.

Fig; '7 showsschematically'the electrical equipment and connections .by which theoperation of the non-stop printing mechanism described above i-s.;controlled. This equipment includes a manually-operable mains switch Ill and 'manually-operable two-pole :switches H and :12 "for connecting either of the motors 40 .into' circuit to bring the-then inoperative type cylinder, as previously described, to approximately the surface speed-of :the impression cylinder, said switches thereafteralso controlling, .in conjunction with the :aforesaid switch 4'! and the pawl 66A, the-operation of the motor to change the position of the impression cylinder.

Assuming .the press to be running and. the impression cylinder 19 :to-bein the position shown in Fi'gil, i: ce. in printing engagement with the type cylinder 5:2, :the :circuit connections are as shown in Fig. [the switch'lilbeing open 'and'the motorsdll .and reversible enotor "4:8 being 'deenergized. When it is desired to produce non-stop printing from the type cylinder I I, the switch 'lll .is-closed .-which completes a circuit from one side [3 of-a direct current supply source, through a resistance :14 and back to the other side 15 of said cuurentrsornce. The switch TH is then actuated to-complete-"a-circuit from the line 13, through line 1 5,- one contact 1-? of the switch l'l, line 18, closcd'contact l9, contactor coils '80 and BI, and line:82 back to the other line 15 of the current sourcen Energization of the-coilsnfll! and BI closes a pair of triple pole switches I83, 34, the former constituting :an automatic eontactor starter for the .rnotor lfl associated with the type cylinder I I, and the-switch flki constituting an automatic contactorstarter for the motor 48. This motor 40' is'the'reby connected in the mains circuit 13, 15 to rotate the shaft 35 carrying the inoperative type cylinder II, while the motor 48 is held stationary by engagement of the pawl 66A with a toothed wheel 69 secured to the motor shaft carrying the worm 51 thus to prevent displacement of the impression cylinder until the type cylinder reaches printing speed. A circuit is also established from the line'13, through line 85, contact 86 of switch 1I,-line 81, closed contact 88, lines 80 and90 and thence by way of a moving coil, centre zero voltmeter 9| and line 92 to the other side of the mains 15. The voltmeter, which includes two resistances 93 and 94, records the potential difference between a fixed tapping 930' of the resistance 93 which governs the speed at which the change is to be made, and a variable tapping 940 of the resistance 94 the position of which varies in accordance with the speed of the press, being connected to a relay associated with the press-operating motor so that when kthe' meter is energized the press is brought to the desired speed. When the speeds of the type cylinder II and impression cylinder I have been brought into register and the pawl or dog 43 on the timing gear 32 associated with said type cylinder has engaged within the recess in the corresponding driving gear 38 to close the switch 41, a circuit is completed from line 13, through line 85, closed contact 95, switch 41, line 96, coil 91, and line 98 to the resistance 14 and thence to the other line of the supply mains. A single pole contactor gravity switch 08 is 'thus actuated to close a circuit from the line 13 through line I00, switch 90, line IOI, solenoid 58 and line I02 to the line I5. Energization of the solenoid 68 causes the pawl EGAto disengage from the gear 09 thereby to per-' mit rotation of the rotor 48 in a direction to move the impression cylinder I0 laterally out of impression engagement with the-type cylinder I2 and into engagement with the type cylinder II.

During the preceding operation of the press, i. e. with the impression cylinder in engagement with the type cylinder I2, the switch 41 on the associated timing gear 32 remained closed under the action of'the corresponding pawl 43. However, immediately upon disconnection of the drive from the gear M to the gear 38 associated with the type cylinder I2 by movement of the impression cylinder I0 to engage the type cylinder I I, the speed of the shaft 35 carrying the type cylinder I2 drops and the corresponding pawl 43 disengages from the cooperating recess 44 in the driving gear 38, with the result that the switch 41 associated with type cylinder I2 is opened. Simila-rly, the switch 41 associated with the other type cylinder I I will remain closed as long as the impression cylinder remains in printing engagemfil'lt with said type cylinder.

When the impression cylinder reaches a position where it is in printing engagement with the type cylinder II, the contacts 19, '88 and 95 are opened, in a manner to be described, the contact 10 releasing the switches 83 and 84 to de-energize the motor 40 associated with said type cylinder and the motor 48. Opening of the contact 88 disconnects the speed control voltmeter SI and thus permits variation of the speed of the press at-tiie discretion of the operator. Finally opening of the contact 95 enables the pawl 68a to reengage with the gear 69 to lock the motor 48 against rotation. The switch 10 is then actuated to break the supply circuit and the switch 1|. which is mechanically interlocked with the switch 10, is opened; this interlocking preventing subsequent operation of switch 1| until switch 10 is again closed.

Simultaneously withthe opening of contacts 19. 88 and 95, three similar contacts I05, I06, and I01 associated with the other motor 40 are closed. The contacts I05 and I06 are in circuit with the switch 12 which is also mechanically interlocked with the mains switch 10 and is therefore inoperable until said mains switch has been closed. The other switch I01 is in circuit with-the switch 41 corresponding to the type cylinder I2 which switch has been opened following disengagement of the driving gear 3| from the gear 38 of said cylinder I2 and the consequent stopping of said latter gear. These contacts I05, I06 and l01 are therefore in the same positions as were the cor responding contacts 19, 88 and during the preceding operation, i. e. with the impression cylinder in engagement with the type cylinder I2.

The contact I05 is also in circuit with a pair of coils I08, I09 the former of which controls the operation of a triple-pole switch H0 in the circuit of the motor 40 associated with the-type cylinder I2 and the latter controlling the opera-- tion of a triple-pole switch III in the circuit of the motor 48 and through which said motor is energized to rotate in the reverse direction and pair of boxes II5 (see also Fig. 6) which are fixed on the rear press frame member I8 or other rigid support. These switches are of the toggle kind having pairs of coaxiallyv arranged pivoted arms H6, H1 engageable with trip dogs H8, I I9 mounted on the corresponding rotatable bearing housing I1. The trip dogs are angularly adjustable on the bearing housing as by means of slot and bolt connections I20 so that their positions may be varied in accordance with the'setting of the stop screws 59.

In addition to the mechanism described above by which the impression cylinder'lfl is movable laterally to engage either of the type cylinders II, I2, to provide for "non-stop late news or like printing, either one or each of said type cylinders is mounted in the press frame so as to be capable of lateral movement relatively to the impression cylinder As here shown only the type cylinder II is, however, movable in this way, the axis of the type cylinder I2 being fixed. Fig. '3 shows the type cylinder II moved into its innermost position to contact the impression cylinder, the mechanism being here conditioned for printing simultaneously by the type cylinders I I l2 and in different colours.

To provide for this lateral movement of the type cylinder II, the bearings housings 31 associatedtherewith are eccentric and are rotatable within circular openings I25 in the press frame members l8. Each of the housings 31 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposite radially outwardly extending lugs I26, I21 which are arranged in different planes axially of said housings and are accommodated within a pair of an-' nular grooves or recesses I28, I29 respectively formed in each press frame member I8. Each lug I26 is arranged to engage, ineither of itsextreme positions, with one or other of a pair of setting screws I30 threaded into holes in the bearing cap 60, said screws beingarranged tan- 9, gentially withrespect to the" type. cylinder: II and:being adjustable to varythe" extent ot'an'gular movementof each ofthe housings 3-1 andthere fore the lateral-movement. of said: type cylinder towards and away from the impression cylinder I Eachofthe other lugs IN is adapted to be engaged by a locking or fixing screw I.3I which may be inserted into one or other ofa pair of threaded holes in the bearing cap fillgsaid screw I3I having only a: short threaded portion at. its outer end to facilitate its removal from one of said holes and its insertion in the other.

Each of the type cylindersl'l lz'has associated therewith a separate ink-supply mechanism.

Each of said mechanisms may be of the fountain ty-pe comprising an ink fountain andfountain and transfer rollers (not shown), and a train of ink-distributing drums I and form inking rollers I'=36. Each of the inkfountains or an addi- .tional fountain provided for the purpose, maybe dividedalong its length into sections so as to print, for example, a four-page wide sheet in a number of colours, such as a diif'erent colour for each page. These divisions of each fountain or other divisions therein may alternatively or additionally be used to print a. coloured heading or seal on any of the pages.

Assuming the non-stop mechanism to be set for two-colour printing as shown in Figure 3, and that it is desired to change to non-stop printing of, for example, late news matter, the locking screw BI is removed and the eccentric housing 31 then rotated. in a counter-clockwise direction until the lug 126- engages the upper of the two setting screws I30. The type cylinder II is thus 'moved laterally through an appropriate distance, for example, one-half inch,'away from the impression cylinder Hi and is secured in its new position by insertion of the locking screw I3I in the lower of the two holes in the cap a 60 so as to engage the lug. I21, these parts then being in the positions shown in Figure 1. The impression cylinder I0 is thus free for lateral movement and-after attaching the printing'plates to the cylinder II, the motor 48 may, as pre- 1 viously described, be operated to rotate the bear ing housings II in a counter-clockwise direction until the-upper abutment 58 engages the upper stop screw 59. The impression cylinder-" iereturn-edto the position shown in Figure 1 before the mechanism is re-conditioned for two-colour printing.

The paper web may be fed around the impression cylinders Ill and I3 to provide for printing either on one-side of the web or on both sides thereof, for which purpose the drive for theimpression cylinder I3 is reversible. As here shown, the impression cylinder I3 is mounted in a pair of eccentric bearing housings I40 which are rotatable within openings I4I inthe press frame members I8 and which, similarly to the housing 31 supporting the type cylinder II, are each formed with a pair of diametrically opposite, radially outwardly extending lugs or projections I I42, I43 which are arranged in difierent planes axially of said housings and which move within annular recesses I44, I45 respectively in the corresponding press frame members I8. The lug I42 is arranged to abut, in each of its extreme positions, with one of a pair of setting screws I46 threaded into holes in a cap frame member I41 and a locking screw I48 having a short threaded portion at its outer end is providedfor engagement with the :lug 143; said locking screw being threaded 10 intooneorother of a pair of holes inxsaid cap frame member.

Each of the. bearing housings MI) has formed integrally therewith atoothed segment'Ill-fii which is inmeshwithone of a pair of toothedsegments i156, the latter being integral with. bearing. rings liEIJ journalled. in the press frame members I8; The bearing rings 2:51 have keyed th recoa. spine dle I52 which atone end'has an eccentric portion 5.53: on whicha pinion I54 is freely rotatable-, said pinionrunning in mesh with. agear I55 fixed" to the impression cylinder I3. In one extreme-positionzofi the bearing housings I40 the gear I55: is meshedawit'h thegear 22while the pinion I54, due tothe eccentri it of its supporting spindle por tion i531 is disengaged from the gear 22 and: is rotated idly by the gear I55, the impression cyli indersiiiand lit rotating in the same direction to provide for printing on one side; of: the: web (see Figure. 1-)". In. the other extremeposition of the bearing housings I l-ll, the gear F5 is moved out of mesh with the gear 22 while the pinion-M54 is moved. into mesh with. said gear 2.2. fisshowln in Figure 3, the impression cylinder I31 in-Kthis position of the'parts is driven in the opposite: direction to the impression cylinder 16 to. provide for printing on both sides of the web. Thus it will be evident that a printing unit comprising a non-stop mechanism and a reversiblecouple asdescribedwith reference tolFigures. 1 to 3Jmay be set to provide one=colour printing on one side of the web and one-colour non-stop or two-colour printing on the other; two-colour and non-stop printing on one side of the web; or three-colour printing on oneside of the web.

An inh-supplysystem similar to that.v employed with each of the type cylinders I I, I2 is provided for the type cylinder I l.

As will be seen from Figures. 1 and 37, the impression cylinder Izll is offset in relation to a plane through the axes of the type: cy1inders :II;,- L21 The teeth of the gears: 34 and 38 are cut. on the addendum :to a point and each of the isosceles angles formed by the intersection of planes through the axes of the impression cylinder and each type cylinder is less than the pressure angle of the gearteeth. This ensures that the gear3il shall engage either gear 38 without jamming;

While. the provision of eccentric annular bearing housings I] for the impression cylinder 1 0; due to the housingszl'being supported around their entire'peripheries by the solid metal of the press frame members, enables said cylinder to withstand heavy loads such as when printing from pages of. text or half tones, said'bearinghousings maybe arranged for movement in a rectilinear instead of anarcuate path. Such an arrange ment is il lustratedrin Fig. 8, where the-bearings I1 are externally of generallysquare. contour and are carried within elongated or rectangularopenings 'l-I'I' in-thepress frame members I8, Movement of the bearing housings within theopenin'g's II 1 to produce traverse of the impression cylinder is effected by a motor 418which is controlled in the same manner as the motor-48 of the previous embodiment. The motor shaft carriesa gear I which meshes with a gear IBI fast one shaft 53- which is mounted in bushes 1 6-2 inboaring housings 55 on the front and rear press frame members la, the shaft 53" performing the samefunc-tions and being axially movable in the samemanner as the shaft 53 of Figures 1 tol. Keyedon the shaft53' adjacent eitherend there'- of is a worm. I63, each of these worms meshing with a worm wheel I64 secured to a shaft- 65 rotatably mounted in bushes I 66in thecorresponding bearing housings 55'. Also secured to each of the shafts I65 is an eccentric I51 which runs within a bore in a rectangular block IE8 which slides within an elongated recess I59 in'the associated bearing housing I'I. Thus upon energization of the motor 48', the eccentrics cause the bearing housings I I to move within the slots -.III' to traverse the impression cylinder.

The'setting screws 59 of the previous embodiment are here replaced by screws I'IB threaded intoone of the bearing housings 55', said screws being arranged to cooperate with a concentric curved block I II secured to the adjacent worm wheel I64 to limit the angular movement of the Worm wheels and therefore of the eccentrics .IS'I. Fig. 8 also shows two switch boxes I I within which are housed triple pole switches similar to the switches I9, 88, 95 and I05, I05, II]? of the earlier embodiment, and which are actuated by trip dogs (not shown) on the corresponding worm wheel I64. The trip dogs are adjustable to synchronize with the setting of the screws III]. A solenoid 68 is provided to control the operation of a pawl 66' which cooperates with the gear IBI to lock the motor 48' against rotation.

Fig. 9 shows a modified form of equipment for controlling the operation of the reversible electric motor 48. In the modification each of the driving gears 38" associated with the non-stop type cylinders carries a pair of contacts I with which is adapted to cooperate a push-button I16 to close a circuit through said contacts I15, conductors P1, a slip ring I18 rotatablewith the shaft 35" and brushes I19 on a housing I88 secured to the adjacent press frame member IS". The brushes I79 are connected in the control circuit of the reversible electric motor in the same way as the switch 41 of the first embodiment described. The push-button is spring-loaded normally'to break the circuit through the contacts I15 and is caused to close said circuit under the action of the timing pawl 43" when the latter enters the recess 44" in the gear 38".

The impression cylinder assembly of the nonstop mechanism may comprise a pair of impression cylinders arranged in side-by-side parallel relationship, the two cylinders each be ing mounted in eccentric :bearing housings which are formed with quadrant gears which are in mesh with a pair of helical pinions arranged to be driven by a reversible electric motor as above described. The impression cylinders are thus caused to move in unison, the arrangement being such that with non-stop printing only. one of said cylinders is in contact with a type cylinder, the. other impression cylinder being out of contact with the other type cylinder. As in the earlier embodiments, either one or both of the type cylinders is or are adjustable towards and away from the impressive cylinder assembly to provide for two-colour printing by saidfnonstop mechanism. The paper web passes successively about peripheral portions of the two impression. cylinders and a further train of bevel gears is provided for driving the additional cylinder.

The range of printing combinations which may be obtained with a unit comprising a non-stop mechanism and a standard reversible couple may be extended to provide for multi-colour printing on one or two webs and with or Without non-stop printing by. employing an additional unit com.- prising two printing couples of which one is reversible. Examples of such printing combinations are illustrateddiagrammatically. in Figures 10 to 17,.which show, in addition to a printing unit-A similar to that described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, a further printing unit B comprising-an impressioncylinder I and co-operating type cylinder I86, and an impression cylinder. I8! and co-operating type cylinder I88, the latter couple being reversible. s

In the arrangement shown in Figure 10, where the impression cylinder III is in engagement with one of the type cylinders II, [2, a single web is printed in one colour on one side and in two colours and non-stop on the reverse side. By adjusting the non-stop mechanism to engage both type cylinders with the impression cylinder III, as shown in Figure 12, the web is printed in one colour on. one side and four colours on the other. 3

Figures 11 and 13 show the two units A and B adapted for printing on two webs. In Figure 11, where the impression cylinder I0 is adjusted to engage only one of the corresponding type cylinders, one of the webs is printed in one colour on each side and the other web in one colour on one side and nonstop on the other side. Withboth type cylinders I I, I2 in engagement with the impression cylinder I6, as shown in Figure 13, one web is printed in one colour on each side and the other -.web in one colour on one side and two colours on the other.

In Figure 14, the two printing units A and B are. adapted for, multi-colour printing on both sides of a single web, one side being printed in two colours and the. other side in-three colours. Figure 1'. shows the same web lead with the mechanism It], H, I2 conditioned for non-stop printing, this arrangement providing for twocolour printing on one side of the web and onecolour and non-stop printing on the reverse side.

Figure 15 shows the two units A and B c0nditioned for printing in three colours on one side of a web and non-stop on the reverse side. In Figure 16 both type cylinders I l, I 2 are operative, the web lead being similar to that shown in Figure 15 and being printed in three colours on the other.

The colour combinations obtainable in accordance with Figures 10 to 17 are shown graphically in Figures 10A to 17A.

A folder is diagrammatically illustrated at C in Figures 10 to 17. With the unit A positioned, as shown, between the unit B and the folder and the printing aggregate arranged to print on two webs, non-stop printing is performed, as in the case of newspapers, on the outside pages. Where non-stop printing is required on the inside pages the unit A will be reversed and positioned on the left of the folder. I

The plate clips on the cylinders II and I2 may be arranged to grip narrow plates such as are generally used for single column stop-press news. With the present arrangement, therefore, itis possible to print both late news and a seal on one page and for these to be in different colours.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentin the United States is:

1. 'A late news or like printing mechanism comprising an impression cylinder, 2. pair of type cylinders operatively disposed relative to said im-' pression -cylinder, means for moving the impression cylinder into impression-engagement with one or the other of said type cylinders, and means supporting one of said type cylinders for 13 movement towards and away from the impression cylinder.

2. A late news or like printing mechanism comprising an impression cylinder, a pair of type cylinders operatively disposed relative to said impression cylinder, means for driving the impression cylinder, means for moving said cylinder into impression engagement with one or the other of said type cylinders, means supporting one of the type cylinders for movement towards and away from the impression cylinder, and means for driving said type cylinders from the impression cylinder.

3. A late news or like printing mechanism com-prising an impression cylinder, a pair of type cylinders at opposite sides of said impression cylinder, eccentric bearing housings supporting said impression cylinder and rotatable to move said cylinder into engagement with one or the other of said type cylinders, and eccentric bearing housings supporting at least one of the type cylinders and rotatable to move said type cylinder towards and away from the impression cylinder.

4. A printing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 which includes means for rotating each type cylinder when disengaged from the impression cylinder and at substantially the surface speed of the impression cylinder, and means for driving each type cylinder from the impression cylinder when the type cylinder is engaged with the impression cylinder.

5. A printing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 I which includes means for rotating each type cylinder independently of the impression cyl- 14 inder and for synchronizing the surface speeds of said type and impression cylinders when they are disengaged from one another and means for driving each type cylinder from the impression cylinder when the type cylinder is in impression engagement.

6. A printing mechanism as claimed in claim 1 which includes means for rotating each type cylinder independently of the impression cylinder and for synchronizing surf-ace speeds of the type and impression cylinders when one of the type cylinders is out of operative engagement with one impression cylinder, means for automatically moving the impression cylinder into engagement with one of the type cylinders when synchronization of speeds has been achieved, and means thereafter for driving said type cylinder from the impression cylinder.

WILLIAM ARNOLD WHITEHEAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

